Convergence Vision

Recognising Success

Throughout the lifetime of Convergence the success of the investments and the people involved will be recognised, as will their contribution to the business success and economic regeneration of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. See the media releases for more information.

Cornwall Works WISE awards 2010
02.07.10

WISE Winners in 2010 are:

Welfare to Work individual Award Winner: Rich Emerson

A veteran of the 1st Gulf War and proud to serve his country but on leaving the army Rich Emerson experienced many barriers to adjusting to everyday life and suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He drifted through a variety of jobs and a series of unsuccessful treatments for PTSD. Four years ago he got help via the Royal British Legion from the Combat Stress charity and Warrior programme.  More recently he undertook the highly successful “Talking to Minds” course.

Understanding that there are many returning service personnel who suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Rich developed a programme of activity to help them, combining his passion and skill for surfing with relaxation and Neuro Linguistic Programming techniques.

Rich has had support from a variety of sources – from the friendships he has developed through surfing, from the Pathways to Work programme and from the Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise ESF Convergence Programme that helped him to move off benefits and start his own business “Surf Action”.  Surf Action is now delivering activity for the Cornwall Works 50+ ESF programme and for the Real Choices programme.

Welfare to Work organisation / project Award Winner: Skills Centre at Penwith Community Development Trust

Skills Centre at Penwith Community Development Trust is an organisation based in Penzance that for a number of years has helped people to build their confidence, motivation and skills for work through innovative packages of interventions, joined up by expert employment advisers.

The centre, supported by investment from the ESF Convergence programme, provides participants with a wide range of support including 1-2-1 employment advice, personal and career development, and training packages to gain qualifications for work.

Working in partnership with Cornwall Healthy Living Centre and Penwith Volunteer Bureau, Skills Centre advisers have helped many people with complex and multiple barriers move from benefits to work.  This includes access to counselling and complementary therapy and opportunities to explore volunteering as a means to gain confidence, new skills and work experience.

As a sub-contractor in the Cornwall Works Plus ESF Convergence programme, the Skills centre team has consistently exceeded delivery targets. The advisory team are extremely supportive, knowledgeable and committed to making a difference for their customers with feedback from participants being overwhelmingly positive.

Innovation individual Award Winner: Mark Jones

Mark Jones joined Dash Ltd through the Unlocking Cornish Potential graduate placement scheme which receives ESF Convergence support.

Dash Ltd is a family owned business that successfully operates selling wholesale, newspapers, Ordnance Survey maps and batteries to 300 retailers.  The company wanted to develop its range of goods and break into new markets and Mark was taken on to take to develop Dash Ltd’s web presence.

Mark has a background in Business and Marketing and took the business on-line to access different markets.  Working with a mentor who specialised in e-marketing, Mark used pay-per-click methods and developed an online campaign which saw business turnover increase to £1.1 million over two years.  Considering Mark’s original brief was to achieve a turnover of £160,000 – this project has been a tremendous success.

The company has successfully broken into new markets and now trades nationally as well as locally.  Mark has two online shops running – www.dash4it.co.uk and www.dash4yourshop.co.uk and the company is one of the top ten ordnance survey wholesalers in the UK and two further staff have been employed to cope with the growth in business.

Innovation organisation / project Award Winner:The ECIF e-Marketing project

The ECIF e-Marketing project is an innovative project designed to help businesses in Cornwall through the recession by utilising emerging digital technologies.

The ECIF e-Marketing Project is funded by HEFCE, ESF Convergence (through Unlocking Cornish Potential) & ERDF Convergence (through Knowledge Exchange South West) and led by University College Falmouth, alongside Cornwall College, and Truro & Penwith College and Business Link.

The project has employed seven graduates who have trained alongside 5 digital marketing companies across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to deliver e-Marketing solutions. The graduates have been supported by Unlocking Cornish Potential, through training and mentoring, to help them develop new skills.

The Graduate Project Managers are now trained in Search Engine Optimisation, e-mail marketing, pay-per-click, Google analytics, Social Media and other e-marketing specialisms. Working alongside the 5 businesses graduates have designed and implemented campaigns for small businesses that have been adversely affected by the recession.

By working in this innovative way the project has provided work and training for 7 graduates, as well as an invaluable service to businesses who would otherwise have been unable to engage in e-marketing to this level.

Skills individual Award Winner:Kevin Maggs

A Union Learning Rep, Kevin has made a real difference in securing and delivering a workforce development programme at A&P Falmouth. A member of the GMB union Kevin was instrumental in negotiating the Marine Skills project at A&P Falmouth, and his considerable talent for engaging learners in the workplace has ensured its success.

The project started in September 2009 with an open day where Kevin ensured that over 70 people attended. Since then Kevin has been pivotal in delivering the learning programme, from working with providers to encouraging learners to attend and enrol. He has also supported and mentored individual learners through their courses wherever needed.

As a result, the training facility at A&P Falmouth is fully utilised, Monday to Friday. To date courses in skills for life and IT have supported over 80 people in the workforce to undertake qualifications from entry level to NVQ level 3 in a range of areas including skills for life, IT, ESOL, leadership and management and Contract law.

Skills organisation / project Award Winner: Cornwall Marine Network

Cornwall Marine Network is a not for profit organisation dedicated to supporting the Marine sector in Cornwall via initiatives that improve business profitability and encourage growth through quality, innovation and training.

Established in 2002 to improve the prosperity of Cornwall's world-class marine sector - it received its first round of EU funding in 2005. Five years on, the Network remains firmly rooted in the sector, seeing the key to the current and future success as continuing to support members through inventive training and marketing initiatives.

Cornwall Marine Network supports marine business through three main initiatives:

Marketing Initiatives that help you generate more enquiries and orders
Training Initiatives that sustain and improve your skills base to allow you to compete effectively
Networking Initiatives that encourage the exchange of best practice between CMN members and other organisations

Looking to the future, and in response to members concerns about lack of awareness of marine careers among Cornwall’s young people, the organisation set up Cornwall Marine Academy in 2008.  Since its launch it has actively engaged with over 1,000 14-19 year-olds, many of whom were NEET (not in education, employment or training).

Employer championing Welfare to Work: The Range, Truro

The Range has shown real commitment to employing people through welfare to work programmes. They have worked closely with Jobcentre Plus to develop pre-employment routeways designed to give long term benefit recipients a chance to compete effectively for jobs within the company.

They are pro-active at recruiting Jobcentre Plus customers; they welcome help, listen to advice and are open to new ideas. In a recent recruitment drive, all six candidates were selected from a Jobcentre Plus pre-employment programme.

In particular, The Range has been positive about employing people with disabilities, focussing on talent and ability.   Once in the workforce, employees are supported on a 1-2-1 basis, with coaching and mentoring and wherever required, through adapting the workplace to meet employees needs.  All employees undertake accredited training that includes NVQs.

Singled out for particular praise is store manager, Holly Stevenson, who goes the extra mile to support her employees, including using her sign language skills to mentor a hearing impaired new recruit to quickly become an integral part of the workforce. Holly is working closely with Jobcentre Plus to run another pre-employment course aimed specifically at recruiting people with Asperger's syndrome. 

Employer championing Skills:Cornwall Farmers

Cornwall Farmers is a local company, established in 1920.  In February 2009, the retail division of the company embarked on a major training initiative involving its 170 retail staff. Developed in partnership with Cornwall College and Cornwall Retail Skills, and funded by investment from the ESF Convergence programme and Train to Gain, the training programme is bespoke to the company’s needs.

Training combines store based activity with innovative workshops delivered by national experts in topics such as visual merchandising and management skills. Qualifications range from basic skills through to NVQ 4 and cover a broad range of subjects including Business Administration, Warehousing and Distribution, Retail Management, Customer Service and Supply Chain Management

As a result of the investment in its workforce, the company has seen rising levels of staff satisfaction, a 24% reduction in absences and an 8% increase in sales.

Download the Cornwall Works WISE Awards 2010 event programme

Local Store Shortlisted for Award
23.06.10

The Range in Truro has been recognised for its commitment to employment with a shortlisting for the 2010 Cornwall Works Wise awards, due to be held on Friday July 3rd.

South West ESF Awards
18.03.10

Awards recognising excellence in employment and skills activity across the whole of the South West from the ESF Convergence and Competitiveness programmes take place at The Rougemont Thistle Hotel in Exeter from 2pm on Thursday March 18th.

18.03.10 Convergence Employer of the Year Award: Mashfords
18.03.10 Tutor/Mentor of the Year Award: Cynthia Thomas
18.03.10 Convergence Employment and Skills Award: Xtravert
18.03.10 SW ESF Outstanding Contribution Award: Carolyn Webster
18.03.10 Convergence Personal Contribution Award: Shaz French
18.03.10 Convergence Young Achiever Award: Dee White
18.03.10 Convergence Workforce Development Award: HFC
18.03.10 Convergence Personal Achievement Award: Arron Edwards

12.10.09 Enterprise in Cornwall Award - Claire Massey, Uni of Plymouth SU
12.10.09 Newquay Cornwall Airport scoops ERA Airport Award
28.09.09 Honorary Doctorate for Nigel Ashcroft
20.08.09 Good practice recognised
10.08.09 University maintains “top five” position
07.08.09 UCF National Students Survey
26.06.09 Queen honours Cornish young mums project
08.05.09 Government praise for Cornwall Works WISE awards
08.05.09 Lifetime achievement award for Professor Keith Atkinson